Chief of D.C. Protective Services Put on Leave

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The chief of the District's Protective Services Police Department has been put on paid administrative leave.

"He was notified on Feb. 17," says Doxie McCoy, a spokeswoman for Mayor Vince Gray. McCoy says Louis Cannon is on leave "while an issue that was raised is looked into." McCoy says she can't discuss the details, as it's a personnel matter. Cannon has been chief since 2008.

Though members of PSPD operate as police officers while patrolling property that belongs to the D.C. government, they are not a part of the Metropolitan Police Department.

Cannon was appointed to President Obama's federal salary council in November. According to an online bio located on the D.C. government website, Cannon has "30-plus years of progressively responsible law enforcement and security" experience. Cannon did not immediately return a call for comment.

Ted Williams, a lawyer retained by PSPD Lt. Alberta Renee Holden,says his client was recently interviewed by a member of the Office of Attorney General regarding Cannon. "I was just retained to make sure that her rights were not violated," says Williams. Williams also says his client was asked there in connection with an investigation the office is conducting. "There seems to be a great deal of upheaval around there. It seems as if police officers felt they weren't being treated well."

In a complaint to the Department of Real Estate Services, which oversees PSPD, Holden says she's concerned about Cannon's temper. (City Desk obtained a copy of the complaint from a source.) She cites instances in which she saw the chief lose his temper and even discusses being afraid to talk about it:

"I do not want to be subject to the Chief’s [wrath] for talking to you about this. But for some reason, I feel that is exactly what is going to happen, I have seen and heard so much, that I believe that no one is safe from that type of behavior. "